An Alternative Natural History of Sussex.
This blog shows the highlights of my day to day findings as a naturalist and ecologist living and working in Sussex. Delivered with a pinch of nihilism, a dash of sarcasm and absolutely no tweeness, here is my attempt to show natural history as it really is: Brutal, beautiful, uncompromising and fascinating...and occasionally ridiculous.

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About Me

I have been studying natural history for some twenty-eight years, fifteen in a professional capacity. I currently work in Sussex as the Senior Ecologist for Sussex Wildlife Trust where I advise on the management of reserves based upon the results of the ecological surveys I carry out. Views here are my own however. I run a number of identification courses and I also do a small amount of freelance ecological consultancy. My main areas of interest are birds, plants and invertebrates and a lot of my spare time is spent in the field. I don't look like a birdwatcher.

On the way up to Levin Down from the small car park at Singleton, I have been used to walking through a pretty dull pasture for the last two years. Today however (and this shows how long it's been since I went to Levin!) the pasture was replaced by an arable field with a metre wide weedy margin running the full length of the path! It's hootching with arable weeds, I didn't have a lot of time but I soon got a tick, Round-leaved Fluellen (photo), of which there was loads. There was also Sharp-leaved Fluellen, Small Toadflax, Dwarf Spurge, Fool's Parsley and the usual common arable weeds. All this whilst I was being distracted by a Red Kite whistling in the distance. I didn't even bother to look for it though, arable weeds are way too exciting! I'll go back and have another look later in the week, I'm pretty sure I saw Cornfield Knotgrass there too so I want to go back with a key. Round-leaved Fluellen is much bigger than Sharp-leaved and lack the pointed lobes at the side of the leaf. However, they both have a pointed tip so the names are misleading.